BANGKOK, Thailand – Six Thai agricultural workers were injured when old ordnance left underground detonated in an agricultural area in Metula, northern Israel, on Tuesday, with two sustaining serious injuries and undergoing surgery in hospital while the other four are reported to be safe. Thailand’s Labour Minister Julapun Amornvivat said he had instructed the Thai Labour Office in Tel Aviv to closely monitor the situation, coordinate assistance, and ensure that the workers receive their full entitlements, with the labour office currently verifying information including the workers’ identities and details of their injuries.

Two more Thai workers die in Israel, increasing death toll to 33

Julapun said the Labour Ministry places the highest priority on the safety and wellbeing of Thai workers overseas and instructed the labour office to monitor the injured workers’ conditions, coordinate with hospitals and local authorities, urgently examine their entitlements, and assess possible assistance for the injured workers and their families. Israeli police and ordnance disposal units are investigating the incident, which occurred in an agricultural area near the northern border town of Metula, while the Labour Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates once verified information becomes available.

The blast highlights the ongoing dangers posed by unexploded ordnance in the region, which continues to pose risks to agricultural workers and residents. Thailand has a significant number of its citizens employed in Israel’s agricultural sector, and authorities have pledged to ensure affected workers receive appropriate medical care and compensation. The Thai Labour Office in Tel Aviv remains in contact with local hospitals and Israeli authorities to facilitate support for the injured and their families.

-Thailand News (TN)